Posts Tagged ‘leadership training’
Why Do You Keep Interrupting Me?
The last two blog posts were titled, Are You Listening and Are You Practicing the Skill of Listening. This post addresses the rude and inconsiderate behavior of interrupting someone else while they are speaking. Mark Twain said, “There is nothing so annoying as to have two people talking when you’re busy interrupting.” Two Examples Unless…
Read MoreAre You Practicing the Skill of Listening?
The title of last week’s blog was Are You Listening? Listening is an active skill, and the process goes far beyond staring at the other person when they are speaking. In his book, Situational Awareness for Emergency Response, Dr. Richard B. Gasaway writes, “The act of listening requires a substantial amount of cognitive horsepower.” He…
Read MoreAre You Listening to Me?
Recently, I had the opportunity to teach a class to a group of singles in our church and the topic was anger. I asked, “What makes you angry?” Some of the answers included things, other drivers, little/older siblings, and not listening. Not listening Why does this happen and what prevents people from listening to someone…
Read MoreTransforming a Toxic Work Environment into a Safe Zone
The past three blogs asked if you would knowingly walk into a dangerous, hazardous zone without protection? Unless you were unaware of the hazards or plain crazy, you would not enter that chemical charged area unprotected. Yet, many employees step into toxic work environments every day, suffering in silence while their stress levels rise and…
Read MoreThe Hidden Dangers of a Toxic Workplace
In the last two blog posts, we discussed the dangers of entering a toxic atmosphere unprotected, comparing a choking cloud of chlorine gas to a harmful work environment. While industrial sites are required by law to post warning signs for hazardous materials, toxic workplaces do not come with danger signs, maybe they should. Imagine if…
Read MoreLeadership’s Role in Preventing a Toxic Work Environment
Last week’s blog asked if you would enter a toxic, chemical environment unprotected. Yet, employees by the scores enter a toxic work environment every day of the year. Would you knowingly expose yourself to a dangerous chemical leak without protection? Of course not. Yet, many leaders allow their employees to suffer in toxic work environments…
Read MoreThe Dangers of Insubordination – The Cost of Sickles’ Defiance
One of the most tragic consequences of leadership conflict in the Civil War occurred on July 2, 1863, during the Battle of Gettysburg. The commanding general of the Army of the Potomac’s Third Corps, Major General Daniel Sickles, a controversial figure with a history of scandal, openly defied orders from General Meade. Meade had instructed…
Read MoreLeadership Under Pressure – General Meade’s Unexpected Promotion
On June 28, 1863, just days before the Battle of Gettysburg, Major General George G. Meade was abruptly awakened and informed that he was now in command of the Union Army of the Potomac. The previous commander, Major General Joseph “Fighting Joe” Hooker, had submitted a letter of resignation to President Abraham Lincoln and General…
Read MoreLeadership Lessons from the Civil War – The Cost of Personal Conflict
The Civil War offers many leadership lessons, particularly regarding the dangers of personal conflict among leaders. The Union Army of the Potomac experienced firsthand how leadership dysfunction at the highest levels of the command structure led to profound consequences, most notably after the Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia. One prime example is Major General Joseph “Fighting…
Read MoreRecognizing and Resolving Unhealthy Team Conflict, Part 2
In Part 1, I wrote that leaders need to exercise discernment when subordinates ask questions because not every question is an automatic indication of conflict. General and President Dwight D. Eisenhower said, “May we never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion.” This requires a greater familiarity of your team members and an understanding of human…
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